Liquid crystal display panel

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes: a first base substrate; a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines disposed on the first base substrate and crossing each other; a pixel electrode pattern disposed on the first base substrate; a storage pattern disposed on the first base substrate, the storage pattern being positioned between consecutive gate lines and substantially in parallel with the gate lines; a second base substrate; a common electrode disposed on the second base substrate and alternately positioned with the pixel electrode; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second base substrates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2007-0009021, filed on Jan. 29, 2007, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) paneland, more particularly, to an LCD panel capable of preventing lightleakage and texture generation.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device displays an image by controllinglight transmittance of respective liquid crystal cells arranged in amatrix form on an LCD panel according to video signals. To obtain awide-viewing angle, the LCD device may employ, for example, a patternedvertical alignment (PVA) mode, an in-plane switching (IPS) mode, or aplane-to-line switching (PLS) mode.

In the PVA mode, a plurality of slits is formed on common electrodes andpixel electrodes of upper and lower substrates, and liquid crystalmolecules located between the substrates are driven symmetrically withrespect to the slits by fringe electric fields generated by the slits,thus forming a multi-domain structure.

In the IPS mode, a liquid crystal is driven by a horizontal electricfield generated between a pixel electrode and a common electrodearranged in parallel on a lower substrate. In the IPS mode, theelectrodes are formed on one substrate so that liquid crystal moleculesare rotated in the plane of the same substrate and, as a result, anoptical axis of a liquid crystal layer is rotated relative to thesubstrate.

In the PLS mode, a common electrode and a pixel electrode are providedin each pixel area with an insulating layer interposed therebetween toform a fringe electric field thereby causing all liquid crystalmolecules filled between upper and lower substrates to be operated inthe respective pixel areas.

However, in the IPS and PLS modes, residual images are generated andlight transmittance is lowered since the electric fields are generatedby the electrodes formed on one substrate. Moreover, in the PVA mode,the aperture ratio is low.

As an alternative to IPS, PLS and PVA, a dual field switching (DFS) modehas been proposed. In the DFS mode, a liquid crystal is alignedhorizontally or vertically to an electric field generated betweenelectric patterns of upper and lower substrates. The DFS mode improvesside visibility and light transmittance by using fringe electric fieldsgenerated between pixel and common electrodes patterned on upper andlower substrates.

However, in an LCD device employing the DFS mode, a step height isformed by a pixel electrode and a storage electrode, which results inlight leakage. In addition, a black brightness is increased by the lightleakage thereby causing the capacity of a storage capacitor to bedecreased. Moreover, since it is difficult to control the liquid crystalarranged in a position where the pixel electrode and a drain electrodeare connected, an undesirable texture is generated.

Accordingly, there exists a need for an LCD panel that is capable ofpreventing light leakage and texture generation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) panel, includes: a first base substrate; a plurality ofgate lines and a plurality of data lines disposed on the first basesubstrate and crossing each other; a pixel electrode pattern disposed onthe first base substrate, the pixel electrode pattern comprising, afirst electrode connection portion and a second connection portionarranged in parallel with each other, a first linear pixel electrode anda second linear pixel electrode arranged between the first electrodeconnection portion and the second electrode connection portion, acentral electrode arranged between the first linear pixel electrode andthe second linear pixel electrode, and a central portion connected tothe central electrode, wherein the first linear pixel electrode and thesecond linear pixel electrode are inclined in a different direction fromeach other with respect to the gate lines, and the central electrode isformed in a substantially triangular shape; a storage pattern disposedon the first base substrate, the storage pattern being positionedbetween consecutive gate lines and substantially in parallel with thegate lines, wherein the storage pattern is a lower electrode of astorage capacitor; a second base substrate; a common electrode disposedon the second base substrate and alternately positioned with the pixelelectrode; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first andsecond substrates.

The storage pattern includes a first storage electrode and a secondstorage electrode formed at positions corresponding to the first andsecond electrode connection portions, respectively, and a storage lineformed at a position corresponding to the central portion of the pixelelectrode pattern and connected to the first storage electrode and thesecond storage electrode.

The storage pattern includes a first storage electrode and a secondstorage electrode formed at positions corresponding to the first andsecond electrode connection portions, respectively, and a centralstorage electrode formed at an intersection between the first storageelectrode and the storage line, wherein the central storage electrode isformed in a linear shape.

The central storage electrode is formed in a substantially quadrangularshape.

The central storage electrode is formed in a substantially rectangularshape.

The central storage electrode is formed about 4 μm apart from thecentral electrode.

The central storage electrode is formed in a substantially triangularshape.

The first and second storage electrodes are formed to have substantiallythe same or wider widths as or than the first and second electrodeconnection portions, respectively.

The first and second linear pixel electrodes are formed obliquely withrespect to the central portion of the pixel electrode pattern.

The pixel electrode pattern is formed to overlap the TFT and includes atexture prevention portion connected to the first and second electrodeconnection portions.

The texture prevention portion is formed in a substantially triangularshape, wherein one side of the texture prevention portion is formedparallel to the second linear pixel electrode and another side of thetexture prevention portion is formed parallel to the gate line.

The texture prevention portion is connected to the TFT.

The storage line is formed of the same material as the gate line.

The storage line is formed on the same plane as the gate line.

The pixel electrode pattern is formed of a transparent conductivematerial.

The second substrate includes a transmissive region and a blockingregion, a black matrix provided in the blocking region, and a colorfilter provided in the transmissive region.

The first linear pixel electrode is provided in plurality and theplurality of first linear pixel electrodes are spaced at regularintervals, and the second linear pixel electrode is provided inplurality and the plurality of second linear pixel electrodes are spacedat regular intervals.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate in a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) panel, includes: forming a gate metal pattern including agate line, a gate electrode and a storage pattern on a substrate;forming a gate insulating layer on the gate metal pattern and asemiconductor pattern including an activation layer and an ohmic contactlayer on the gate insulating layer; forming a data metal patternincluding a data line, a source electrode and a drain electrode on thesemiconductor pattern and the gate insulating layer, and removing theohmic contact layer between the source electrode and drain electrode toexpose the activation layer; forming a passivation layer on the datametal pattern and the gate insulating layer, and forming a contact holein the passivation layer to expose the drain electrode; and forming apixel electrode pattern on the passivation layer, the pixel electrodepattern including a texture prevention portion connected to the drainelectrode via the contact hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention will become moreapparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof withreference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the LCD panel shown in FIG. 1 takenalong line I-I′;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the LCD panel shown in FIG. 1 takenalong line II-II′;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pixel electrode pattern of the LCD panelshown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a storage pattern of the LCD panel shownin FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the pixel electrode pattern shown in FIG. 3and the storage pattern shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a storage pattern and a pixel electrodepattern of an LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5B is a plan view showing a storage pattern and a pixel electrodepattern of an LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a storage pattern of an LCD panel inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a plan view showing the pixel electrode pattern shown in FIG.3 and the storage pattern shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a storage pattern of an LCD panel inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a plan view showing the pixel electrode pattern shown in FIG.3 and the storage pattern shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an orientation of a liquid crystalwhen a voltage is not applied to the LCD panel shown in FIG. 1 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating an orientation of a liquid crystalwhen a voltage is applied to the LCD panel shown in FIG. 1 in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view and FIGS. 11A, and 11B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 10, respectively, illustratinga first mask process of a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor(TFT) substrate in an LCD panel in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view and FIGS. 13A, and 13B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 12, respectively, illustratinga second mask process of the method of manufacturing the TFT substratein the LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a plan view and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline II-II′ of FIG. 14 illustrating a third mask process of the methodof manufacturing the TFT substrate in the LCD panel in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a plan view and FIGS. 17A, and 17B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 16, respectively, illustratinga fourth mask process of the method of manufacturing the TFT substratein the LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 18 is a plan view and FIGS. 19A, and 19B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 18, respectively, illustratinga fifth mask process of the method of manufacturing the TFT substrate inthe LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of theinvention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG.2A is a cross-sectional view of the LCD panel shown in FIG. 1 takenalong line I-I′, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the LCD panelshown in FIG. 1 taken along line II-II′.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, an LCD panel includes a thin filmtransistor (TFT) substrate, an opposing substrate, and a liquid crystal200 disposed between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate.

The TFT substrate includes a first substrate 10, a gate line 20, a dataline 40, a gate insulating layer 30, a TFT 50, a passivation layer 70, apixel electrode pattern, and a storage pattern.

The first substrate 10 includes a plurality of pixels arranged in amatrix form and has a transmissive region for transmitting light emittedfrom a backlight assembly (not shown), and a blocking region forblocking the light. It is desirable that the first substrate 10 beformed of an insulating material such as glass or plastic.

The gate line 20 is formed on the blocking region of the first substrate10. The gate line 20 is connected to a gate electrode 51 of the TFT 50and thereby supplies a gate signal to the gate electrode 51 of the TFT50. The gate line 20 may be formed of a metal material in a single layeror in a multi-layer thereof. The metal material used in the formation ofthe gate line 20 may include molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), copper (Cu),aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), silver (Ag), tungsten (W), or an alloythereof.

The gate insulating layer 30 is formed on the gate line 20. The gateinsulating layer 30 insulates a gate metal pattern including the gateline 20, the gate electrode 51 and the storage pattern from a data metalpattern including the data line 40, a source electrode 53 and a drainelectrode 55.

The data line 40 supplies a pixel voltage signal to the source electrode53 of the TFT 50. The data line 40 is formed to cross the gate line 20with the gate insulating layer 30 interposed therebetween.

The TFT 50 allows the pixel voltage signal of the data line 40 to becharged to the pixel electrode pattern and maintained in response to agate signal of the gate line 20. The TFT 50 includes the gate electrode51 connected to the gate line 20, the source electrode 53 connected tothe data line 40 and overlapping a portion of the drain electrode 55,and the drain electrode 55 facing the source electrode 53 and connectedto the pixel electrode pattern.

Moreover, the TFT 50 includes a semiconductor pattern 60 overlapping thegate electrode 51 with the gate insulating layer 30 interposedtherebetween and forming a channel between the source electrode 53 anddrain electrode 55.

The semiconductor pattern 60 includes an activation layer 61 formed tooverlap the gate electrode 51 with the gate insulating layer 30interposed therebetween. The semiconductor pattern 60 further includesan ohmic contact layer 63 formed on the activation layer 61 andproviding ohmic contact between the data line 40 and the source anddrain electrodes 53 and 55.

The passivation layer 70 is formed on the data line 40 and the TFT 50 toprotect the same. The passivation layer 70 may be formed of an inorganicmaterial.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the pixel electrode pattern of the LCDpanel shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pixel electrode pattern includes a centralportion 109, linear pixel electrodes 95 and 97, first and secondelectrode connection portions 91 and 93, a central electrode 101, and atexture prevention portion 107. The pixel electrode pattern is formed onthe passivation layer 70. Moreover, the pixel electrode pattern isformed of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide(ITO), tin oxide (TO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), and indium tin zincoxide (ITZO).

The central portion 109 is formed in the center of the transmissiveregion parallel to the gate line 20.

The linear pixel electrodes 95 and 97 include a plurality of first andsecond linear pixel electrodes 95 and 97 formed obliquely andsymmetrically with respect to the central portion 109.

The first and second electrode connection portions 91 and 93 are formedin the blocking region parallel to the data line 40. The first andsecond electrode connection portions 91 and 93 are connected to theplurality of first and second linear pixel electrodes 95 and 97. Thefirst and second electrode connection portions 91 and 93 are connectedto the central portion 109. In other words, the first electrodeconnection portion 91 is connected to the left side of the centralportion 109 and the second electrode connection portion 93 is connectedto the right side of the central portion 109. Upper and lower ends ofthe second electrode connection portion 93 are connected to upper andlower ends of the first electrode connection portion 91. Moreover, thelower ends of the first and second electrode connection portions 91 and93 are connected by the texture prevention portion 107.

The central electrode 101 is formed at an intersection between the firstelectrode connection portion 91 and the central portion 109. The centralelectrode 101 is formed in the shape of a triangle.

The texture prevention portion 107 is connected to the lower ends of thefirst and second electrode connection portions 91 and 93. The textureprevention portion 107 is generally formed in the shape of a triangle.In particular, one side 103 of the texture prevention portion 107 isformed parallel to the second linear pixel electrode 97 and the otherside 105 of the texture prevention portion 107 is formed parallel to thegate line 20. With such a structure in that the one side 103 of thetexture prevention portion 107 is formed parallel to the second linearpixel electrode 97, a fringe electric field is generated constantly,thus enabling control of the liquid crystal 200. Accordingly, thegeneration of texture on the LCD panel can be prevented. The textureprevention portion 107 is connected to the drain electrode 55 exposed bya contact hole 75 penetrating the passivation layer 70.

FIG. 4A is a plan view showing the storage pattern of the LCD panelshown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the pixel electrodepattern shown in FIG. 3 and the storage pattern shown in FIG. 4A.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the storage pattern includes first andsecond storage electrodes 81 and 83, and a storage line 85. The storagepattern is formed on the same plane as the gate line 20 and the gateelectrode 51 with the same material. In particular, the storage patternis formed of a metal material in a single layer or in a multi-layerthereof on the first substrate 10. The metal material may include Mo,Nb, Cu, Al, Cr, Ag, W, or an alloy thereof.

The first and second storage electrodes 81 and 83 are formed parallel tothe data line 40 in the blocking region. Moreover, the first and secondstorage electrodes 81 and 83 are formed in parallel with each other,with the storage line 85 interposed therebetween. In particular, thefirst storage electrode 81 is formed to extend from the storage line 85.The second storage electrode 83 extending from the storage line 85 isformed from the drain electrode 55 to the upper end of the secondelectrode connection portion 93 and an end of the second storageelectrode 83 protrudes therefrom. For example, the second storageelectrode 83 may be generally formed in the shape of a reverse ‘L’. Thelower end of the first storage electrode 81 extends from the storageline 85 to the gate line 20 further than the lower end of the secondstorage electrode 83 extending to the gate line 20. The first storageelectrode 81 is formed parallel to the second storage electrode 83.Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first and second storage electrodes81 and 83 are formed to have the same widths as the first and secondelectrode connection portions 91 and 93 of the pixel electrode pattern,respectively. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5B, the first and secondstorage electrodes 81 and 83 are formed to have widths larger than thoseof the first and second electrode connection portions 91 and 93,respectively. The storage pattern and the pixel electrode patternoverlap each other to form a storage capacitor. In more detail, thestorage pattern and the pixel electrode pattern overlap each other withthe gate insulating layer 30 and the passivation layer 70 interposedtherebetween, thus forming the storage capacitor. Accordingly, thecapacity of the storage capacitor is increased as the storage patternand the pixel electrode pattern overlap each other.

The storage line 85 is formed parallel to the gate line 20 in the centerof the transmissive region. The storage line 85 is overlapped by thecentral portion 109 of the pixel electrode pattern. In particular, thestorage line 85 is formed to be narrower than the central portion 109.Accordingly, since the widths of the central portion 109 and the storageline 85 are not the same, a step height is not formed and thereforelight leakage can be prevented. The storage line 85 is connected to thefirst storage electrode 81 and the second storage electrode 83. In moredetail, the left side of the storage line 85 is connected to the firststorage electrode 81 and the right side of the storage line 85 isconnected to the second storage electrode 83. For example, the storageline 85 and the first and second storage electrodes 81 and 83 may begenerally formed in the shape of an ‘H’.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a storage pattern of an LCD panel inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 6B is a plan view showing the pixel electrode pattern shown in FIG.3 and the storage pattern shown in FIG. 6A. Moreover, FIG. 7A is a planview showing a storage pattern of an LCD panel in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a planview showing the pixel electrode pattern shown in FIG. 3 and the storagepattern shown in FIG. 7A.

Referring the FIG. 6A, the storage pattern includes a central storageelectrode 89 formed at an intersection between the storage line 85 andthe first storage electrode 81. As shown in FIG. 6B, the central storageelectrode 89 is overlapped by the central electrode 101 of the pixelelectrode pattern. The central storage electrode 89 may be formed about4 μm apart from the central electrode 101. If the interval ‘a’ betweenthe central storage electrode 89 and the central electrode 101 is lessthan about 4 μm, a step height is formed, which results in lightleakage. Accordingly, it is preferable that the interval ‘a’ between thecentral storage electrode 89 and the central electrode 101 be largerthan about 4 μm. The central storage electrode 89 may be formed in theshape of a triangle. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the centralstorage electrode 89 may be formed in the shape of a quadrangle.Accordingly, since a step height is not formed by the central storageelectrode 89 and the central electrode 101, light leakage can beprevented. Although the above description has been made for the casewhere the central storage electrode 89 has a triangular or quadrangularshape, the description is not limited thereto. For example, the centralstorage electrode 89 may be formed in any shape as long as the interval‘a’ between the central storage electrode 89 and the central electrode101 is larger than about 4 μm.

Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the opposing substrate includes asecond substrate 150, a black matrix 160, a color filter 170, aplanarization layer 180, and a common electrode pattern 190.

The second substrate 150 includes a transmissive region for transmittinglight and a blocking region for blocking light. It is desirable that thesecond substrate 150 be formed of an insulating material such as glassor plastic.

The black matrix 160 is formed in a matrix shape in the blocking regionof the second substrate 150 to define a plurality of pixels in which thecolor filter 170 is formed. Moreover, the black matrix 160 is formed tooverlap the gate line 20, the data line 40 and the TFT 50 on the TFTsubstrate. The black matrix 160 shields light generated by anundesirable orientation of the liquid crystal 200 to improve thecontrast of the LCD panel. Moreover, the black matrix 160 interceptsdirect light irradiation to the TFT 50 to prevent the generation oflight leakage by the TFT 50. For this, the black matrix 160 is formed ofan opaque metal or opaque polymer resin.

The color filter 170 includes red (R), green (G) and blue (B) colorfilters 170 to reproduce colors. The respective R, G and B color filters170 absorb or transmit light of a specific wavelength through R, G and Bpigments included therein, thus displaying R, G and B colors. In thiscase, the R, G and B color filters 170 display various colors by anadditive mixture of R, G and B lights passed through the R, G and Bcolor filters 170. The color filters 170 are arranged in a stripe shapewhere the R, G and B color filters 170 are arranged in a row.

The planarization layer 180 is formed on the color filters 170 and theblack matrix 160 to planarize the surface of the color filters 170.

The common electrode pattern 190 is formed on the planarization layer180. The common electrode pattern 190 is formed between the plurality oflinear pixel electrodes 95 and 97 formed on the TFT substrate andthereby fringe electric fields are generated. The liquid crystalmolecules 200 are driven symmetrically with respect to the linear pixelelectrodes 95 and 97 using the fringe electric fields to form amulti-domain structure. The common electrode pattern 190 is formed of atransparent conductive material such as ITO, TO, IZO, and ITZO.

The liquid crystal molecules 200 are rotated by a difference between apixel voltage from the pixel electrode pattern and a common voltage fromthe common electrode pattern 190 of the opposing substrate to controlthe transmittance of light emitted from the backlight assembly. To thisend, the liquid crystal 200 is made of a material having dielectricanisotropy and refractive anisotropy.

In a dual field switching (DFS) mode, a liquid crystal 200 having apositive or negative dielectric anisotropy is aligned horizontally anddriven horizontally or vertically to the electric field direction, thuscontrolling light transmittance. Moreover, a horizontal alignment layeris formed on the upper portion of the first and second substrates 10 and150. In the following, a description will be given with respect to theliquid crystal 200 having a positive dielectric anisotropy. As shown inFIG. 8, when a voltage is not applied to the LCD panel, the liquidcrystal molecules 200 are oriented at an angle of about 10° to about 30°with respect to the linear pixel electrodes 95 and 97 and the commonelectrode pattern 190. As shown in FIG. 9, when a voltage is applied tothe LCD panel, the liquid crystal molecules 200 are alignedperpendicularly to the linear pixel electrodes 95 and 97 and the commonelectrode pattern 190. In this case, only typical liquid crystalmolecules 200 are depicted in FIG. 9 to illustrate that the state of theliquid crystal molecules 200 is varied when the voltage is applied tothe LCD panel.

Next, a method of manufacturing a TFT substrate in an LCD panel inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 19B.

FIG. 10 is a plan view and FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 10, respectively, illustratinga first mask process of a method of manufacturing a TFT substrate in anLCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B, a gate metal pattern including agate line 20, a gate electrode 51 and a storage pattern is formed on aninsulated first substrate 10 by a first mask process. In other words, agate metal layer is formed on the insulated first substrate 10 by adeposition method such as sputtering. The gate metal layer is formed ofa metal material in a single layer or in a multi-layer thereof. Themetal material may include Mo, Nb, Cu, Al, Cr, Ag, W, or an alloythereof. Subsequently, the gate metal layer is patterned byphotolithography and etching processes using a first mask, thus formingthe gate metal pattern including the gate line 20, the gate electrode 51and the storage pattern.

FIG. 12 is a plan view and FIGS. 13A, and 13B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 12, respectively, illustratinga second mask process of the method of manufacturing the TFT substratein the LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 13B, a gate insulating layer 30 isformed on the gate metal pattern including the gate line 20, the gateelectrode 51 and the storage pattern, and a semiconductor pattern 60including an activation layer 61 and an ohmic contact layer 63 is formedon the gate insulating layer 30.

The gate insulating layer 30, an amorphous silicon layer, and animpurity-doped amorphous silicon layer are formed in sequence on thegate metal pattern by a deposition method such as plasma-enhancedchemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The gate insulating layer 30 isformed of an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide (SiOx)or silicon nitride (SiNx). Subsequently, the amorphous silicon layer andthe impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer are patterned byphotolithography and etching processes using a second mask, thus formingthe semiconductor pattern 60 including the activation layer 61 and theohmic contact layer 63.

FIG. 14 is a plan view and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline II-II′ of FIG. 14 illustrating a third mask process of the methodof manufacturing the TFT substrate in the LCD panel in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a data metal pattern including a data line40, a source electrode 53 and a drain electrode 55 is formed on thesemiconductor pattern 60 and the gate insulating layer 30.

More specifically, a data metal layer is formed on the semiconductorpattern 60 and the gate insulating layer 30 by a deposition method suchas sputtering. The data metal layer is formed of a metal material in asingle layer or in a multi-layer thereof. The metal material may includeMo, Nb, Cu, Al, Cr, Ag, W, or an alloy thereof. Subsequently, the datametal layer is patterned by photolithography and etching processes usinga third mask, thus forming the data metal pattern including the dataline 40, the source electrode 53 and the drain electrode 55. Then, theohmic contact layer 63 exposed between the source electrode 53 and thedrain electrode 55 is removed using a third mask to expose theactivation layer 61. The semiconductor pattern 60 and the data metalpattern including the data line 40, the source electrode 53 and thedrain electrode 55 may be formed by one mask process using a diffractiveexposure mask or a half-tone mask.

FIG. 16 is a plan view and FIGS. 17A, and 17B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 16, respectively, illustratinga fourth mask process of the method of manufacturing the TFT substratein the LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 16, 17A, and 17B, a passivation layer 70 including acontact hole 75 is formed on the data metal pattern and the gateinsulating layer 30 by a deposition process such as PECVD. Thepassivation layer 70 is formed of the same inorganic insulating materialas the gate insulating layer 30. Subsequently, the passivation layer 70is patterned by photolithography and etching processes using a fourthmask, thus forming the contact hole 75 exposing the drain electrode 55.

FIG. 18 is a plan view and FIGS. 19A, and 19B are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines I-I′ and II-II′ of FIG. 18, respectively, illustratinga fifth mask process of the method of manufacturing the TFT substrate inthe LCD panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 18, 19A, and 19B, a pixel electrode pattern is formedon the passivation layer 70. In other words, a transparent conductivelayer is formed on the passivation layer 70 by a deposition method suchas sputtering. The transparent conductive layer is formed of atransparent and conductive material such as ITO, TO, IZO, and ITZO.Subsequently, the transparent conductive layer is patterned byphotolithography and etching processes using a fifth mask, thus formingthe pixel electrode pattern. A texture prevention portion 107 of thepixel electrode pattern is connected to the drain electrode 55 exposedby the contact hole 75 penetrating the passivation layer 70.

As described above, in the LCD panel according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the storage pattern is overlappedby the pixel electrode pattern in the transmissive region. In detail,since the storage line of the storage pattern and the central storageelectrode of the storage pattern are overlapped by the central portionof the pixel electrode pattern and the central electrode of the pixelelectrode pattern, respectively, a step height is not formed andtherefore light leakage can be prevented. Moreover, with the textureprevention portion formed to control the liquid crystal, the generationof texture on the LCD panel can be prevented.

While the present invention has been described in detail with referenceto the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as setforth in the appended claims.

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising: a first basesubstrate; a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data linesdisposed on the first base substrate and crossing each other; a pixelelectrode pattern disposed on the first base substrate, the pixelelectrode pattern comprising, a first electrode connection portion and asecond connection portion arranged in parallel with each other, a firstlinear pixel electrode and a second linear pixel electrode arrangedbetween the first electrode connection portion and the second electrodeconnection portion, a central electrode arranged between the firstlinear pixel electrode and the second linear pixel electrode, and acentral portion connected to the central electrode, wherein the firstlinear pixel electrode and the second linear pixel electrode areinclined in a different direction from each other with respect to thegate lines, and the central electrode is formed in a substantiallytriangular shape; a storage pattern disposed on the first basesubstrate, the storage pattern being positioned between consecutive gatelines and substantially in parallel with the gate lines, wherein thestorage pattern is a lower electrode of a storage capacitor; a secondbase substrate; a common electrode disposed on the second base substrateand alternately positioned with the pixel electrode; and a liquidcrystal layer disposed between the first and second base substrates. 2.The LCD panel of claim 1, wherein the storage pattern comprises: a firststorage electrode and a second storage electrode formed at positionscorresponding to the first and second electrode connection portions,respectively; and a storage line formed at a position corresponding tothe central portion of the pixel electrode pattern and connected to thefirst storage electrode and the second storage electrode.
 3. The LCDpanel of claim 1, wherein the storage pattern comprises: a first storageelectrode and a second storage electrode formed at positionscorresponding to the first and second electrode connection portions,respectively; and a central storage electrode formed at an intersectionbetween the first storage electrode and the storage line, wherein thecentral storage electrode is formed in a linear shape.
 4. The LCD panelof claim 3, wherein the central storage electrode is formed in asubstantially quadrangular shape.
 5. The LCD panel of claim 3, whereinthe central storage electrode is formed in a substantially rectangularshape.
 6. The LCD panel of claim 3, wherein the central storageelectrode is formed about 4 μm apart from the central electrode.
 7. TheLCD panel of claim 6, wherein the central storage electrode is formed ina substantially triangular shape.
 8. The LCD panel of claim 2, whereinthe first and second storage electrodes are formed to have substantiallythe same or wider widths as or than the first and second electrodeconnection portions, respectively.
 9. The LCD panel of claim 3, whereinthe first and second storage electrodes are formed to have substantiallythe same or wider widths as or than the first and second electrodeconnection portions, respectively.
 10. The LCD panel of claim 1, whereinthe first and second linear pixel electrodes are formed obliquely withrespect to the central portion of the pixel electrode pattern.
 11. TheLCD panel of claim 10, wherein the pixel electrode pattern is formed tooverlap the TFT and comprises a texture prevention portion connected tothe first and second electrode connection portions.
 12. The LCD panel ofclaim 11, wherein the texture prevention portion is formed in asubstantially triangular shape, wherein one side of the textureprevention portion is formed parallel to the second linear pixelelectrode and another side of the texture prevention portion is formedparallel to the gate line.
 13. The LCD panel of claim 11, wherein thetexture prevention portion is connected to the TFT.
 14. The LCD panel ofclaim 2, wherein the storage line is formed of the same material as thegate line.
 15. The LCD panel of claim 2, wherein the storage line isformed on the same plane as the gate line.
 16. The LCD panel of claim 1,wherein the pixel electrode pattern is formed of a transparentconductive material.
 17. The LCD panel of claim 1, wherein the secondsubstrate comprises: a transmissive region and a blocking region; ablack matrix provided in the blocking region; and a color filterprovided in the transmissive region.
 18. The LCD panel of claim 1,wherein the first linear pixel electrode is provided in plurality andthe plurality of first linear pixel electrodes are spaced at regularintervals, and the second linear pixel electrode is provided inplurality and the plurality of second linear pixel electrodes are spacedat regular intervals.